Nelson Mandela waved to the capacity crowd that greeted him at the Oakland Coliseum shortly after his release from a South African prison in 1990.

Photo: Sarah Fawcett, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nelson Mandela waved to the capacity crowd that greeted him at the...

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San Francisco City Hall flags fly at half-staff in commemoration of Mandela. He mentioned support from S.F. union workers in the 1990 speech in Oakland.

Photo: Michael Short, The Chronicle

San Francisco City Hall flags fly at half-staff in commemoration of...

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Nelson Mandela waves from the airplane doorway at Oakland International Airport Saturday, June 30, 1990, as his eight city U.S. tour draws to a close.

Photo: David Longstreath

Nelson Mandela waves from the airplane doorway at Oakland...

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Enthusiastic spectators cheer during mass rally honoring anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday, June 30, 1990. The stadium, normally home to the champion Oakland A's, was filled to capacity for the last public appearance of Mondela's eight city U.S. tour.

Photo: Sarah Fawcett

Enthusiastic spectators cheer during mass rally honoring...

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Nelson Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress, gestures to a capacity crowd at the Oakland Coliseum Saturday, June 30, 1990, during the last stop of his eight city U.S. tour.

Photo: Peter Southwick

Nelson Mandela, deputy president of the African National Congress,...

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The sun sets behind a Mandela Parkway sign Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, in Oakland, Calif. Nelson Mandela, who became one of the world's most beloved statesmen and a colossus of the 20th century when he emerged from 27 years in prison to negotiate an end to white minority rule in South Africa, has died. He was 95.

Photo: Ben Margot, Associated Press

The sun sets behind a Mandela Parkway sign Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013,...

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South Africans gather outside the house of Nelson Mandela shortly after hearing about the death of the antiapartheid leader and former president.

Photo: Alexander Joe, AFP/Getty Images

South Africans gather outside the house of Nelson Mandela shortly...

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The statue of former president Nelson Mandela ar Nelson Mandela Square, on December 5, 2013 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Foto24, Getty Images

The statue of former president Nelson Mandela ar Nelson Mandela...

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Mourners sing and dance to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, in the street outside his old house in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. Flags were lowered to half-staff and people in black townships, in upscale mostly white suburbs and in South Africa's vast rural grasslands commemorated Nelson Mandela with song, tears and prayers on Friday while pledging to adhere to the values of unity and democracy that he embodied.

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

Mourners sing and dance to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela, in...

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This picture shows a framed image of former South African president Nelson Mandela as people pay tributes following his death, in Johannesburg on December 6, 2013. Nelson Mandela, the revered icon of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and a towering figure of 20th century politics, died on December 5 aged 95.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, AFP/Getty Images

This picture shows a framed image of former South African president...

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South Africans light candles outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 6, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95, President Jacob Zuma said on December 6.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, AFP/Getty Images

South Africans light candles outside Nelson Mandela's home in...

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A man wears keyrings showing the face of Nelson Mandela taped to his ears to mimic earrings as he and others celebrate his life, in the street outside his old house in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa Friday, Dec. 6, 2013. Flags were lowered to half-staff and people in black townships, in upscale mostly white suburbs and in South Africa's vast rural grasslands commemorated Nelson Mandela with song, tears and prayers on Friday while pledging to adhere to the values of unity and democracy that he embodied.

Photo: Ben Curtis, AP

A man wears keyrings showing the face of Nelson Mandela taped to...

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Flowers in a baracade on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

Flowers in a baracade on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South...

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South Africans hold a candlelight vigil outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, AFP/Getty Images

South Africans hold a candlelight vigil outside the house of former...

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A man sells newspapers carrying the news on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

A man sells newspapers carrying the news on December 6, 2013, in...

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The South African flag flies half mast on December 6, 2013, in East London, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Gallo Images, Getty Images

The South African flag flies half mast on December 6, 2013, in East...

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A woman reads of Tata's death on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

A woman reads of Tata's death on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg,...

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Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6,...

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Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6,...

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Ernie Els of South Africa ponders the news of the death of South African President Nelson Mandela prior to the continuation of the weather delayed first round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Gary Player CC on December 6, 2013 in Sun City, South Africa.

Photo: Stuart Franklin, Getty Images

Ernie Els of South Africa ponders the news of the death of South...

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Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6, 2013, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Sunday Times, Getty Images

Crowds gather to pay their last respects to Tata on December 6,...

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Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the St. George's cathedrea on December 6, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Foto24, Getty Images

Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the St. George's cathedrea on December...

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Australian cricketers observe a minutes silence to mark the passsing of former South African president Nelson Mandela on the second day of the second Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia in Adelaide on December 6, 2013. Nelson Mandela, the revered icon of South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and a towering figure of 20th century politics, died on December 5 aged 95.

Photo: SAEED KHAN, AFP/Getty Images

Australian cricketers observe a minutes silence to mark the...

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The statue of former president Nelson Mandela ar Nelson Mandela Square, on December 6, 2013 in Hammanskraal, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Foto24, Getty Images

The statue of former president Nelson Mandela ar Nelson Mandela...

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An Indian artist draws a miniature portrait of South African former president Nelson Mandela onto his thumbnail as a part of his homage in Siliguri on December 6, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: DIPTENDU DUTTA, AFP/Getty Images

An Indian artist draws a miniature portrait of South African former...

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A man wearing a yellow t-shirt of the South African ANC ruling party grieves with other people on December 6, 2013 outside the house of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN, AFP/Getty Images

A man wearing a yellow t-shirt of the South African ANC ruling...

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Cabin crew members pose on December 6, 2013 in front of a statue of late South African President Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, a day after his death. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN, AFP/Getty Images

Cabin crew members pose on December 6, 2013 in front of a statue of...

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The Mandela Museum on Vilakazi Street on December 6, 2013 in Soweto, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Foto24, Getty Images

The Mandela Museum on Vilakazi Street on December 6, 2013 in...

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A man gestures as he reacts to the death of Nelson Mandela at the South African embassy near Trafalgar Square on December 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images

A man gestures as he reacts to the death of Nelson Mandela at the...

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Members of the public lay tributes to former South African President Nelson Mandela outside South Africa House near Trafalgar Square on December 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: Stuart C. Wilson, Getty Images

Members of the public lay tributes to former South African...

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Joanna Vignola weeps before placing a floral tribute at the foot of a statue to Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square on December 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images

Joanna Vignola weeps before placing a floral tribute at the foot of...

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A Chinese security officer walks past images of former South African president Nelson Mandela at the Embassy of South Africa on December 6, 2013 in Beijing, China. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: ChinaFotoPress, ChinaFotoPress Via Getty Images

A Chinese security officer walks past images of former South...

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The Mandela statue on Mandela Square on December 6, 2013 in Hammanskraal, South Africa. The Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, Tata Madiba, passed away quietly on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton with family.

Photo: Foto24, Getty Images

The Mandela statue on Mandela Square on December 6, 2013 in...

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Crowds gather at the Statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square, the day after the announcement of the death of Nelson Mandela on December 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: Stuart C. Wilson, Getty Images

Crowds gather at the Statue of Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square,...

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European Union flags fly at half mast in honour of former South African leader Nelson Mandela, who died at the age of 95 last night, outside the Berlaymont building of the European Commission (EC) on December 6, 2013 in Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the execution of the European Union's policies.

Photo: Adam Berry, Getty Images

European Union flags fly at half mast in honour of former South...

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Members of the public lay tributes to former South African President Nelson Mandela outside South Africa House near Trafalgar Square on December 6, 2013 in London, England. Mandela was a leader that helped conquer apartheid in racially divided South Africa after being jailed for his activism for decades. He was South Africa's first black president. He died yesterday at the age of 95.

Photo: SAV, Getty Images

Members of the public lay tributes to former South African...

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South Africans sing as they pay tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans sing as they pay tribute to former South African...

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South African police vehicles are parked outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South African police vehicles are parked outside the house of...

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South Africans wait for news outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 6, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95, President Jacob Zuma said on December 6.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans wait for news outside Nelson Mandela's home in...

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South Africans gather outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 6, 2013 . Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95, President Jacob Zuma said on December 6.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans gather outside Nelson Mandela's home in...

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News crews gather around a statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela outside the South African Embassy December 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. Incumbent South African President Jacob Zuma announced earlier that Mandela has died at the age of 95.

Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images

News crews gather around a statue of former South African President...

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South Africans hold pictures of former South African president Nelson Mandela as they pay tribute following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans hold pictures of former South African president...

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News crews gather around a statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela outside the South African Embassy December 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. Incumbent South African President Jacob Zuma announced earlier that Mandela has died at the age of 95.

Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images

News crews gather around a statue of former South African President...

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South Africans react as they pay tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans react as they pay tribute to former South African...

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A woman holding a candle and a rose cries outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

A woman holding a candle and a rose cries outside the house of...

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South Africans react as they pay tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans react as they pay tribute to former South African...

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A woman holding a candle and a rose cries outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

A woman holding a candle and a rose cries outside the house of...

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An unidentified granddaughter of former South African president Nelson Mandela leaves his house following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

An unidentified granddaughter of former South African president...

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South Africans hold pictures of former South African president Nelson Mandela as they pay tribute following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans hold pictures of former South African president...

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South Africans gather for a candlelight vigil outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans gather for a candlelight vigil outside the house of...

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Media wait for news outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg on December 6, 2013 . Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95, President Jacob Zuma said on December 6.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

Media wait for news outside Nelson Mandela's home in Johannesburg...

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U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he makes a statement regarding the death of former South African president Nelson Mandela at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House December 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. Incumbent South African President Jacob Zuma announced that Mandela has died at the age of 95.

Photo: Alex Wong, Getty Images

U.S. President Barack Obama pauses as he makes a statement...

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South Africans hold a candlelight vigil outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans hold a candlelight vigil outside the house of former...

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South Africans sing as they pay tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans sing as they pay tribute to former South African...

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A man holds a candle outside the house of former South African president Nelson Mandela following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

A man holds a candle outside the house of former South African...

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South Africans sing in tribute to former South African president Nelson Mandela outside his house following his death in Johannesburg on December 5, 2013. Mandela, the revered icon of the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa and one of the towering political figures of the 20th century, has died aged 95. Mandela, who was elected South Africa's first black president after spending nearly three decades in prison, had been receiving treatment for a lung infection at his Johannesburg home since September, after three months in hospital in a critical state.

Photo: ALEXANDER JOE, Getty Images

South Africans sing in tribute to former South African president...

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Activity outside former president Nelson Mandela's Houghton home as friends and family visit in Johannesburg.

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Activity outside former president Nelson Mandela's Houghton home as friends and family visit in Johannesburg.

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Activity outside former president Nelson Mandela's Houghton home as...

Long before Nelson Mandela filled the Oakland Coliseum in a triumphant visit shortly after being released from a South African prison in 1990, the Bay Area had been a hub of the antiapartheid movement - and shared a special connection with the civil rights leader.

Opposing South Africa's racist apartheid system unified factions in the Bay Area and state like few other issues. Longshore workers and college students joined in the effort with celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg and politicians including a Republican governor, George Deukmejian.

Longtime Rep. Ron Dellums led an often-lonely fight in Congress to win federal sanctions against South Africa. When he was lieutenant governor, Leo McCarthy was arrested at an antiapartheid protest. So was the poet Maya Angelou.

In 1986, California became the largest government in the U.S. to require divestment of South Africa-related investments - $11 billion at the time. Deukmejian endorsed the move.

"In apartheid, we saw the epitome of evil," said Pedro Noguera, who was UC Berkeley's student body president in 1985, leading protests and being arrested at antiapartheid demonstrations on campus.

For once, 'we won'

Now a professor of education at New York University, Noguera said, "People who are for progressive causes are often used to losing. But they can point to this one and say, 'We won.'

"Mandela was more of a mythic figure at that point," Noguera said. "He was more of an inspirational symbol to us."

Antiapartheid protests were staged at hundreds of campuses nationwide in the 1980s, and the ones at UC Berkeley were among the most powerful.

In April 1985, 10,000 students boycotted classes a day after police arrested 159 people during a Sproul Plaza protest.

When the university announced in 1986 that it would divest $3.1 billion from companies doing business in South Africa, "you felt that you were part of something that made the world different," said Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, who helped organize the UC Berkeley protests.

Dockworker protest

Mandela was impressed when members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in San Francisco refused to unload the South African cargo ship Nedlloyd Kimberley in 1984. Mandela praised the union workers during his 1990 speech at the Coliseum, saying, "They established themselves as the front line of the antiapartheid movement in the Bay Area."

"It was electric when he said that," said Lawrence Thibeaux, who sat in the fifth row as Mandela spoke. He recalled being on the dock as the union's business agent when workers refused to unload the cargo.

"Fifty percent of our membership was black," Thibeaux said. "To keep unloading cargo meant we were helping their government continue their program of apartheid."

Seeing Mandela in person years later "showed that we had helped change things," Thibeaux said.

Movement grew

The horror of apartheid had long resonated in the black community, particularly among those who had lived through the civil rights era. But Alex Bagwell, an African American who participated in the longshore worker protests, said the movement boomed among people of all colors during the recession of the early 1980s, "when there were a lot of people out of work or on picket lines."

"There was a hell of a connection there, a lot of identification," said Bagwell, now retired and living in San Francisco.

"Part of (the connection) was that the United States also was dealing with its issues of racism," said Wilson Riles Jr., who was a member of the Oakland City Council when it divested its South African-related holdings in the mid-1980s.

Riles said his lasting memory of Mandela will be how he walked out of prison in 1990, "head held high, back straight, and with his values intact."

Unforgettable day

Oakland Deputy Mayor Sandre Swanson was a staff member for Dellums and helped coordinate Mandela's visit to Oakland on June 30, 1990. He still gets chills remembering the day.

"It was not commercial at all - it was spiritual," Swanson said of the mass rally. "There were so many kids in the audience, it was like family.

"I remember opening the door when (Mandela's) car pulled up. I shook his hand and I said, 'Thank you.' "